Description

Ceftazidime + Avibactam is a fixed-dose combination medication. It is composed of two active components:

• Ceftazidime: A third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic.
• Avibactam: A non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor.

The combination of these two drugs is designed to treat serious bacterial infections, particularly those caused by resistant gram-negative bacteria.

Indication

Ceftazidime + Avibactam is used to treat a range of infections caused by susceptible bacteria, including:

• Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) (in combination with metronidazole).
• Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis.
• Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP).

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action for this medication involves the combined effects of its two components:

1. Ceftazidime: This component is a bactericidal antibiotic. It works by binding to essential penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) inside the bacteria. This binding inhibits the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, leading to a loss of cell integrity and ultimately, bacterial cell death.
2. Avibactam: This component is a β-lactamase inhibitor. Many bacteria produce enzymes called β-lactamases that can break down and inactivate ceftazidime and other β-lactam antibiotics. Avibactam works by binding to and inactivating these β-lactamase enzymes. By doing so, it protects ceftazidime from degradation, which allows the ceftazidime to effectively kill the bacteria. This combination is particularly effective against bacteria that have become resistant to other antibiotics due to the production of these enzymes.